Mail-box and letter-carriers pouch.



L. VIEZZI.

MAIL BOX AND LETTER CARRIERS POUCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1909.

. Patented Sept. 14. 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTUR Luzfgi Vz'gzzi WITNESSES ATTORNE Y8 L. VIEZZI.

MAIL BOX AND LETTER GARRIERS POUCH.

APPLICATION mum MAY 12, 1909. 934.245.

Patented Sept. 14. 1909.

4 SHEBTB-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS L. VIEZZI. MAIL BOX AND LETTER GARRIER'S POUCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1909.

- Y Patented Sept. 14.1909, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS L. VIEZZI.

MAIL BOX AND LETTER GARRIERS POUCH.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 12, 1909. 7 934,245. Patented Sept. 14. 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1 H a m 1 IEI... Mr

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES Litter VIEZZI, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

tenth-Box AND Lnr'rnnfonanmrvs Potion.

ceases.

Application filed Kay 12, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUIGI Vmzzr, a subject of the King of Italy, and aresident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Box and Letter-CarriersPouch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The. object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mail boxand letter carriers pouch, arranged to operate in conjunction with eachother with a view to fill the pouch with the accumulated mail in theletter box, and to close and lock both the mail box and pouch in such amanner that the let:

ter carrier does not touch the mail to be collected and has no access tothe same, thus preventing pilt'ering'of the mail by unfaithfulcollectors of mail.

For the purpose mentioned the letter box and the pouch are-adapted to beconnected.

with each other at their closed bottoms, which latter are then ca ableof opening into the pouch, to allow t e contents of the letter box todrop into the pouch, the latter on being disconnected from the mail boxcausing an automatic closing and locking of the bottomsiot' the mail boxand pouchr A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1. is a perspective view of the improvement, showing the pouchattached to E is locked in place, then the other section D the mail boxfor transferring the accumulated muil in the letter box to thc lettercarriers pouch; Figsi. and are cross sections or the mail box and pouchdisconnected;

Fig. 4 is a like view of the same connected with each other; Fig. 5 isan inverted plan view of the mail box, parts being in section; Fig. (5is an inverted plan view of the letter carriers pouch, parts being insection; Fig.

'7 is a sectional plan view of the connected mail box and pouch, on theline 77 of Fig. i; Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the lettercarrier's pouch, on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional sideelevation of the mail box, on the line 99 of Fig. 2; Fig. 10 is a crosssection of the improvement,

showing the mail box and pouch connected 3 with each other and theirbottoms in openi pqsition for the contents of the mail box to drop intothe pouch; and Fig. 11 is 1- 12c- Speciflcation of lietters Patent.Patental Sept. '14, 1909.

Serial No. 495,441.

t-ional side elevation of the mail box, on the line 1111 of Fig. 2.

The mail or letter box A is attached to a post B or other suitablesupport, and the bottom of the mail box A is adapted m be connectedwith'the bottom of a letter carriers pouch C, of leather, canvas orother suitable material, to allow of transferring the accumulated mailmatter of the mail box A into the pouch. C, without the letter c'artouch or otherwise have access to the transferred mail.

' The bottom of the mail box A is formed of two sections D and D,-conneeted .by hinges E and E with the front and rear of the mail box Aat the lower end thereof, so as to allow the bottom sections D, D to'swing downward into an inclined open position (see Fig. 10), or up intoa horizontal closed position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The bottomsections D and D are provided at the sides with upwardly-extendingflanges D D overlapping one the other, and adapted to pass into acompartment A surrounding the lower portion of the mail box A, andforming a part thereof, as will be readily understood by reference tothe draw ings. The flange D is the innermost of the two flanges at eachside of the mail box A, and the lower edge of each flange D rests on theinner face of the opposite bottom section D, as plainly indicated in Fiare in a closed position, and the sectioIrD is likewise held locked in aclosed position. The bottom section D is adapted tobc engaged near itssides by spring catches F and F, secured to the mail box A at the sidesthereof, so as to normally hold the sections D and D of the bottom ofthe mail box A in a closed position'for the accumulation of the mailduring certain hours of the day or night.

The pouch C is provided at its bottom with a head C of sheet metal orother suit able stiff material, and this end of the pouch C is normallyclosed by-a bottom formed of the sections H, H, connected by hinges Eand E to the head G, and the bottom sections H and H are provided at thesides j the flanges D 3 on the bottom sections 1), T). The bottomsection H is adapted 9 1 and 10, so that when the sections D an% D' rierin charge of the pouch C being able to with ovcrlappinq flanges H H,similar to seams to be engaged near the sides by spring catches F, Fsimilar to the spring catches F and F and fastened-to the inner face ofthe head C, as indicated/in Fig. 8. Thus by the arrangement describedthe bottom sections H and H of the bottom of the pouch C are normallyclosed.

The upper end 0 the pouch G is provided with a closure Gyin the form ofa flap adapted to be fastened by straps G and buckles G to the front ofthe pouch C, and the upper end of the pouch C is also provided with theusual carrying strap G for conveniently supporting the pouch C from theshoulder ofthe letter carrier.

, Inside of the pouch C is arranged a partition in the form of a bag Cof leather or other flexible material and secured at its mouth C totheinner wall of the pouch C, approximately midway between the bottom andtop of the pouch. Now by the arrangement described the bag C divides thepouch G into a top and bottom compartment, and the bag C can be pushedinto either compartment. Thus when the bottom sections H and. H areclosed and the closure G is open, the

. bag C is pushed down into the lower com partment so as to allowof'filling the pouch with mail matter, to be delivered by the lettercarrier, who now follows his route in the usual manner and delivers hisletters from the pouch. lVhen the letter carrier reaches the end of theroute and has delivered his mail, he closes the closure G and thenreverses the position of the pouch C, so that the bottom sections H, Hare on top, to allow of connecting the bottom sections H, H with thebottom sections D, D, for opening the bottom of the mail box A and thebottom of the pouch C, for transferring the contents of the mail boxinto the pouch C. The mail matter which drops into the pouch reversesthe bag C therein, so as to extend the latter into a normal upper butnew lower comparti'nent, as indicated in Fig. l.

In order to connect the bottom sections D and H and the bottom sectionsD and H with each other, to interlock and to form hinges for swingingthe bottom. sections 1), I) downwardly and the bottom sections H, Hupwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, the following arrangement is made:

On the under side of the bottom sections D and D, at the closing or freeedges thereof, are fixed the lengthwise-extending tubular hinge membersI and I (see Figs. 2 and 5),

curved in spiral shape to receive similarly curved tubular hinge members1 1, formed or secured on the adjacent or free edges of the bottomsections H and H. The members 1 I are adapted to he slipped endwise intothe members I, I from the right to the left, as indicated. by the arrowa, shown in 5, until the bottom sections 11 and H are directly oppositethe bottom sections D and D,

other, to allow the said sections to swing into the open position shownin Fig. 10, as soon as the bottom sections are unlocked by the catchesF, F, F and F. For the purpose mentioned, unlocking devices areprovided, arranged as follows: A rod J extends lengthwise on the underside of the bottom section D, in alinement with the catches F and F, andone end of the rod 3 is connected with a lever J, pivoted on the bottomsection D, and engaging the inner side of the spring catch F (see Figs.5 and 7 )1 The other end of the rod J terminatesin a loop J throughwhich extends the free end of the catch F. A similar rod J 3 extendslengthwise on the outer face ofthe bottom section H, and one end of thisrod J 3 terminates in a loop J through which extends the free end of thespring catch F (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8), and the other end of this rod. J?is connected with a lever J fu1 crumed on the bottom section H andengaging the inner face of the free end of the spring catch F The rod J,its lever J and its loop J are inclosed in a casing K, forming part ofthe under side of the bottom section D, and a similar casing K inc-losesthe rod J its loop J and lever J. The free end of the lever J projectsinto the hinge member I and into the path of the hinge member I and thefree end of the lever J 5 projects into the path of the hinge member I,so that when the hinge members I and I are slipped into position in thehinge members I and I, as previously explained,then the 'hinge member Ifinally engages the lever J,

and swings the same outwardly, to pull the rod J from the right to theleft, and at the sametime the other r'od J 3 is actuated by the hingemember I coming in contact with the free end of the lever J the rod Jhowever, being pushedin an'opposite direction from that given to the rodJ. Now when the rods J and J are actuated in the manner de-,

scribed, the levers J and J 5 swing the spring catches F and F 3 out ofengagement with the bottom sections D and H, and the loops,

J 2 and J 4 swing the spring catches F and F out of engagement withthebottom sections D and H, to unlock the same. 'VVhen this takes place,the carrier, by a slight'down ward pull on the pouch C, causes theunlocked bottom sections D, D to swing down ward into an open position,and the bottom sections H and H to swing upward into an open position,as shown in Fig. 10. When this takes place, the mail matter contained inthe mail box A drops down into the pouch C, the mail matter sliding overthe downwardly and inwardly inclined bottom seceaaeaa tions D and D, sothat all the mail matter contained in the mail box A readily passes intothe pouch C.

In order to prevent disconnecting of the hinge members I, I and I, I, atthe time the bottom sections D, D and H, H swing into open position, useis made of a pin 1* (see Fig. 5), arranged in the hinge section I, andadapted'to be engaged by a bayonet slot 1, formed in the forwaa'd end ofthe hin e member I (see Fig. 6). the hinge members 1 I have been pushedin en agement with the hinge membersl, I, as beIore explained, the pin 1extends in the rear end of the slot 1, and when the bottom sections D,I), H, H now swing open, the pin 1 passes into the angular portion 1 ofThus when the bayonet slot 1 thus preventing the hinge members 1 I frombeing drawn out of the hinge members I and 1 during the time the bottomsections D, D and H, H are in the open position shown in Fig. 10.

After the mail has been transferred from the mail box A to the pouch C,above described, the letter carrier lifts the mail pouch C, so that thebottom sections H, H, D, D swing back into the closed position shown inFig. 4, and then the letter carrier pulls the pouch C in the inversedirectionof the arrow a, to disengage the hinge members 1 I from thehinge members I, 1'. When this 'takes place the unlocking device,consisting or the rods J, J and their levers J, J and loops J, J*, arereleased, and consequently the spring catches F, F, F F" return by theirown resiliency to their normal locking positions, thus locking" the bottom sections D and H again in place and with them the bottom sections Dand H, as previously explained.

Itis understood that when the bottom sections H, H and D, D are swungback into closed positions,

inner end of the slot 1, so that the pouch C can be removed from themail bo x A, as previously explained.

The top-A of the mail box A isprefcrably 'pcaloshaped and the front facethereof is provided with an'entrance openin A normally closed by a lidL, having a iandle L adapted to be taken hold of by the user, to swingthe lid L into open position, as shown in Fig. 4, to allow of passing aletter or other mail matter through the openin A into the interior ofthe mail box A. VVit'hin the mail box A is arranged a chute N, extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from the on trance opening A so that theletter or other mail matter slides down the chute N against a stop Lforn'iing an inner continuation of the lid L, said stop if passing thefree end of the chute N at the time the lid L is swung open, asindicated in Fig. l. Whom the lidL drops into a closed position, thestop L passes a distance from the free cud of the the pin 1* is returnedto the chute N, so that the mail matter held on the whale is now tree todrop into the interior of the mall boi: A, to accumulate therein. The

lid L provided with ends L hung on pivotst'), attached to the inside ofthe head X, and the sides L carry a counter weight I, to normally holdthe lid L in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent: 1

1. A mail box and letter carrier-s pouch, both having their bottomsformed of two hinged sections ineetin at their free ends,

means for locking'the bottoms in closed positions, and means forconnecting the free ends of the bottom sections of the mail box withthose of the pouch and unlocking one the other. p

2. A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having their bottomsformed of hinged sections meeting at their free ends,- and means on thesaid free ends to interlock the free ends of the hinged sections for thepouch bottom with the free ends of the hinged sections for the boxbottom, to swing the said hinged bottom sections open.

3. A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having their bottomsformed of hinged sections meeting at. their free ends, and means on thesaid free ends to interlock the free ends of the hinged sections for thepouch bottom with the free ends of the hinged sections for the boxbottom, to swing the said hinged bottom sections open in an outwarddirection. I

4. A mail box and letter carrier's pouch, both having their bottomsformed of hinged sections meeting at their free ends, and means on thesaid free ends to interlock the free ends of the hinged sections for thepouch bottom with the free ends of the hinged sections for the. boxbottom, to swing the said hinged bottom sections open in an outwarddirection, the said-bottom sections having flanges at the ends.

A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having hinged bottoms, andmeans on the said bottoms for connecting the same with each other,locking devices for normally locking the pivoted bottoms againstopening, bottoms,'the unlocking device on the pouch bottom serving tounlock thelocking device .forthe box bottom, and the unlocking device onthe box bottohaserving to unlock the looking device on the pciuchbottom.

6. A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having their bottomsformed of two hinged sections meeting ,at-their free ends, means forconnecting the bottom sections of the box with the bottom sections ofthe pouch, locking devices for locking the sectional bottoms againstopening, and unlocking devices on said sectional bottoms, the

and unlocking devices on the said on the pouch bottom.

.with the interior of the pouch, the hinged unlocking device on thepouch bottom serving to unlock the locking" device for the box bottomand the unlocking device on the box bottom serving to unlock the lockingdevice 7. A mail box and letter carrier-"s pouch, both having hingedbottoms, and provided with interlocking and hinging means to swing thebottoms'outward into open position, to connect the interior of the mailbox l l l l I l l bottom of the mail box forming a chute for directingthe mail from the mail box into the pouch.

8. A mail box and letter 'carriers pouch, both having hinged bottomsmade in sections, capable of swinging outward, each bottom sectionhaving flanges at the sides, interlocking and hinging means at the adjacent free ends of the bottom sections for hingedly connecting theopposite bottom sections with each other, and locking devices at thesides of the mail box and pouch for normally locking the bottom sectionsagainst opening, the said interlocking means being adapted to engage andactuate the said locking devices to unlock the bottom sections.

9.' A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having hinged bottomsmade in sections capable ofswinging outward, the opposite bottomsections having interlocking means forming hinges, to swing the bottomsections in unison into open or closed position. I

10. A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having hinged bottomsmade in sec tions capable of swinging outward, the op- )OSllG bottomsections having interlocking means forming hinges, to swing the bottomsections in unison into open or closed position, and flanges at'thesides of the bottom sections to close the connection between the mailboxand pouch at the sides of the connection.

11. A mail box and letter carriers pouch,

both having hinged bottoms made in sections ea l-nae capable of swin ingoutward, the opposite bottom sections iaving interlocking means forminghingcs, to swing the bottom sections in unison into open or closedposition, and overlapping flanges at the sides of the bottom sections toclose the connection between the mail box and pouch at the sides of theconnection.

12. A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having bottoms in hingedsections, each section being provided near the sides with flanges, andat the free end with a tubular interlocking hinge member adapted toengage the corresponding member on the opposite bottom section, lockingClBVlCGS on the mail box and pouch for normally locking the bottoms inclosed position, and unlocking devices on the said bottoms for engagingand actuating the said locking devices, each of the said unlockingdevices having a 'member extending into the path of the entering tubularinterlocking hlnge member of the other bottom. ,l

13. A mail box and letter carriers pouch, both having bottoms in hingedsections, each section being provided near the sides with flanges, andat the free end with a tubular interlocking hinge member adapted toengage the corresponding member on the opposite bottom section, springcatches on the mail box and pouch for normally lockin the bottoms inclosed position, concealed sliding rods on the said bottoms, a loop atone end of a rod, and a lever at the bottom end for engaging thesaidspring catches to open the latter, the lever extending with its free endinto the path of the entering tubular interlocking hinge member of theother bottom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LUIGI VIEZZI. VVit-nesses Lotus C. HAUENs'rEIN, FRIEDRICH- W'A HLER.

